Railway vestibule-diaphragm.



No. 870,054. P'ATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

I H. H. SUHROYER. RAILWAY VESTIBULE DIAPHRAGM.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.24,1906,.

z SHEETS-SHEET PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

11.. H. SUHROYER. RAILWAY VESTIBULE DIAPHRAGM.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.24,1906- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY H. SCH'ROYER, OF CHICAGO, lLLlNOIS.

RAILWAY VESTIBULE-DIAPHRAGM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY H. SCHROYER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway vestibule-Diaphragms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which'form a part of this specification.

.This invention relates to improvements in railway vestibule diaphragms, and is shown embodied as a double diaphragm of 'the Gould type.

Heretofore in constructing diaphragms, canvas or cotton belting has been employed in strips, the edges of which are sewed together to afford the plaits in the separate legs and the top, and said legs and top are cut at their adjacent ends and are usually connected by a separate corner piece. It is expensive to-so construct diaphragms and furthermore owing to the overlapping of the seams at the joints at the bend between the top and leg the thickness becomes such at the corners or angles as to be a serious objection especially as each joint is a source of weakness and expense. Furthermore difiiculty is frequently experienced in so constructing the top of the diaphragm as to prevent-sagging. This is particularly true in such diaphragms as are constructed with relatively narrow folds.

The object of this invention is to construct a diaphragm having the legs and top thereof integral, andif desired of a single piece of fabric of suitable width and quality which is folded to afford the usual accordion plaits and which is formed or bent without cutting to afford the desired bend at the upper corners, or junction of the top with the legs.

It is a further object of the invention to so construct a diaphragm of the Gould type to afford ready and convenient access to the mechanism connecting the face plates thus enabling repairs or adjustments to be effected without detaching the diaphragm from either face plate.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a section taken transversely of the vestibule. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the central or laced fold of the inner diaphragm. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken through the corner of both diaphragms to illustrate the formation of the corners.

As shown in the drawings A indicates the vestibule face plate and A indicates the diaphragm face plate which are connected, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, as is new in construction 'of the to s pport the dia-- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 24. 1906; Serial No. 349.302.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

phragm face plates in parallel relation with and at a fabric of suitable width, and length folded longitudinally in accordion plaits. Said diaphragm, as shown, is formedat the corners and supported across the top by means of a relatively thin bar or strap of metal b, or other suitable-material which is secured by sewing or riveting in the top of each-fold or plait and is shaped to afford the desired curvature of the top, and parallel downturned ends to engage in each leg. Below the ends of said bar or strap the foldsare sewed together, as shown in Fig. 2 to afford a strong seam which serves to greatly stiffen the leg. Within the outer diaphragm B and secured to the inner edge of the vestibule face plate and the diaphragm face plate, is a diaphragm B, also constructed preferably of a single piece of fabric and folded to correspond with the outer diaphragm, and which as shown is stiffened across its top and part way down the leg thereof in each seam by straps or bars I), which are secured one in each inner plait or fold by means of rivets or by sewing and along side the same, as shown in Fig. 1. The outer and inner folds or plaits by sewing, riveting or other suitable means except that one of said inner plaits 0, preferably one near the middle is slit open for part of its length and is provided along its edges with eyelets, adapted to be engaged together by a lacing 12 This permits access to be had to the space between the diaphragms for the purpose of making repairs or for adjustment, supporting means for the face plate without necessitating the detachment of the diaphragm.

The'operation is as follows; In constructing the dia phragm, as for instance the outer diaphragm, the fabric is folded in plaits of a sufficient length and widthto provide both legs and the. top of the diaphragm and the steel or other metallic straps b are suitably shaped and meanscf said metallic straps or bars. Inasmuch as thestraps extend downwardly in the leg folds for a considerable distance the'entire weight of the to is thus communicated,,to the legs and any tendency of the top to I sag is obviated. In the same manner the inner diaphragm is constructed of a single strip of sqfficient length and the straps orbars b are secured 'in the inner fold or that adjacent the inner side of the diaphragm while the outwardly directed folds are supported there's on owing to the rigidity. of said straps:

are

the diaphragms get out of order it can be readily reached through said slit thus avoiding the necessity of'detachingone of the diaphragms from its face plate to afford access to such interior mechanism.

Obviously should it be desired the rods or straps which form the top and shape the corners of the diaphragms may eirtendto near the bottom of each leg though this is not necessary, and if desired more than one piece of fabric may be employed in constructing either or both diaphragms though when so employed said strips will preferably extend the entire length of the diaphragm thereby obviating seams at the corners 4 and in the top of the diaphragm. If desired the open fold in the inner diaphragms may be adapted to be closed by other means than lacing, and I do not purpose limiting this application for patent to a diaphragm construction of the Gould type as obviously the diaphragrns may be constructed with any width of fold or plait and may be employed with any vestibule.

I claim as my invention:

1. A car vestibule diaphragm comprising a strip of fubricfolded to afford plaits and of a length to provide the sides and top (if the diaphragm, a rigid strap of metal engaged in the alternate plaits and curved to form and shape the corners, said strap of metal havingshort legs, extending downwardly in the plaits and one of said folds adapted to be opened.

2. A diaphragm of the class described comprising a strip of fabric folded in plaits and formed to afford an integral top and one leg, a metallic strap secured in alternate piaits and shaping the corners thereof and supporting the top upon the legs and means affording access through the diaphragm.

3. A diaphragm comprising a strip of fabric folded in plaits; a strip of reinforcing in the alternate folds and shaped to form an arched roof and to shape the corners of the diaphragm, said reinforcing strap extending a short distance in the legs and the folds from the ends of the reinforcing sewed or riveted to form a strong structure and one of said folds laced to afiord access therethrough.

e. A vestibule diaphragm of theclass described embracing a pne piece outer diaphragm, folded in plaits, a rigid reinforcement shaped to fit in the legs and top thereof and rigidly secured in alternate folds of the diaphragm and shaping the corners and ,the integral top thereof, on inner diaphragm and means afl'ording access between the same and outer diaphragm.

5. A vestibule diaphragm of the classdescribed embracing a one piece outer diaphragm folded in plaits, a rigid reinforcement shaped to fit in the legs and top thereof and riveted in alternate folds of the diaphragm and shaping plaits below said reinforcement being xla ced to permit opening the same.

G. A device of the class described embracing a strip of fabric folded longitudinally to provide a plurality of relatively narrow plaits and of a length to afiord the logs, the corners, and the top of a diaphragm, stifiening reinforceing material secured in the top thereof and about which said plaits are bent to aiford the corners, of the diaphragm the remaining plaits being sewed and one of said folds or plaits being adapted to be readily opened.

7. A construction of the class described embracing an outer diaphragm having integral legsand top, a stiffening; and reinforcing strap secured in the outer plaits or 'folds thereof and shaping the top and corners; an inner diaphragm comprising a like folded strip or fabric comprising a plurality of plaits and embracing integral legs and a top, a reinforcing stiffening member secured across the top and in the legs of the inner folds and shaping the corners and top, each of said diaphragms being stitched or otherwise rigidly secured at the folds, and-one of the central plaits of the inner diaphragm having a central opening therethrough adapted to be closed by lacing; and affording access therethroughto the space between the diaphragms.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY H. *scnnoi'nn.

Witnesses:

C. W. HILLS.

' the corners and integral top thereof, one of the folds or 

